Abstract

Deciphering the signal within X-ray fluorescence (XRF) core scanner data can be complex in comparison to conventional laboratory XRF analysis where samples are milled and pelleted or beaded. One complicating factor is that the down-core variability in water content and grain-size can affect element count rates thereby potentially leading to inaccurate interpretations. Experiences using an Itrax XRF core scanner data highlight some of the pitfalls that can occur when the sediment is inhomogeneous. We show that over a threshold of 25 wt.% coarse grained material ( > 63 µm) within the sediment there is a potential for causing significant variability in certain elements. It is also shown that water content variability has a major effect above 40 %.